Greater Than, part two

REVIEW:

I’ve obeyed all I know, and God is fully in control; therefore, I’m letting go.

For most us, our point of reference is “ME”

Acts 8:9-11

A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody GREAT. They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God!” They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time.

Acts 8:12

But when they believed Philip, as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

God does not appeal to “me”, rather He reveals Himself to me.

The only true point of reference is God.

Acts 8:13; 18-19

13 Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he went around constantly with Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed ...

18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

We grow small trying to be greater than.

It is hard to move forward when focused on self.

Guilt Fear Anger

Pride Past

Insecurity (false humility) Deception

Acts 8:20-23

20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought the gift of God could be obtained with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

Acts 8:24

“Please pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

{one slide}

Stuck on Self:

a) 1st question: How does this affect me?

b) God question: Will God do what I want?

c) Disproportionate emotion

d) What happens when “self” gets called out?

Mark 8:34

Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

The shift to GREATER THAN means shifting our focus from self to self-denial.

When I insist on “me” and “my way”, I miss a way that is greater than.

Matthew 16:25-26

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life?

Begin with a one-word question: WHO? -- me or Him?